Cupcakes have existed since a baker decided that cut out the cake carving and make personal sized cakes to serve. It was a simple innovation but a genius concept none-the-less. Lately gourmet cupcakeries have sprung up like weeds across the country as folks attempt to cash-in on the rebirth of cool that is a cupcake.
Houstonist poo-pooed the idea as another food fad that would die painfully in a few short years. Well, friend, a few years have passed and the gourmet cupcake novelty seems to be starting it's downward slope. However, CRAVE Cupcakes (no, we're not screaming, that's how they write it) should feel secure in their future despite the economic woes facing Houston. Quite simply, CRAVE bakes the best cupcakes we've ever tasted - hands down. Better than Mom's. Better than Grandma's.
Get the low down on the CRAVE menu after the jump.
"Better than Grandma's?" you say. FACT! Grandma just got out grandma'd by Elizabeth Harrison g-ma. Grandma Harrison provided some of the recipes in the Crave arsenal, which explains our flashbacks to an old kitchen table in a Third Ward house that no longer exists.
The store itself also adds to the nostalgia. Antique yet functional countertop mixers and an old school oven accent a mostly modern design. Conceived by AvroKO, the space is meant to convey purity that complements the high quality ingredients that yield such a tasty product. Tasty are the cupcakes.
Houstonist recently participated in a cupcake-a-thon and sacrificed our waistline in order to bring you the following guide on the CRAVE experience. Step 1: cancel your supper plans and focus on the cupcakes instead. Trust us. You won't want to eat anything following a cupcake-a-thon done right. Next, check the online menu to view the flavors available for your visit as they vary daily. Be certain to bring a friend or friends so that you can taste more cupcakes. We went with a group, tasted seven flavors and consumed a total of two cupcakes worth of deliciousness. Lastly, arrive sooner rather than later as some of the daily favorites may sell out if you wait until late in the evening.
As for what flavors you should actually taste, we are prepared to make the following recommendations. Please note that Houstonist does not like fruit - especially not cooked fruit. But, the strawberry cupcake was our favorite, which is consistent with the word on the skreet. The secret ingredient is pureed fruit folded into the yellow cake mix. Finishing one one-hundredth of a second behind strawberry was the dark chocolate. The dark chocolate is so rich it tastes like you're eating money. And, it is nearly impossible and 100% stupid to eat a dark chocolate cupcake without milk to assist you. You'd be a fool to forgo the ice cold milk served in a frosted milk bottle. It's so cold and creamy that it will freeze your brain, but cupcakes, like chocolate chip cookies, are best enjoyed with milk. Sorry, lactards.
Here's how we ranked the flavors we tasted.
- Strawberry
- Dark Chocolate
- Chocolate Coconut
- Vanilla
- Red Velvet
- CRAVE Mint Chocolate
- Apple
A young lady once tried to blackmail us and demanded CRAVE cupcakes as payment. Ultimately we decided it was in our best interest to eat the cupcake ourselves consequences be damned.
However, should you need to appease a blackmailer or just prefer to make your Valentine's Day a bit sweeter, then stop by CRAVE. They are replacing the normal toppers with little red hearts surfing that sea of buttercream icing.
Drop us a dozen and we'll love you forever.
CRAVE Cupcakes
1151-06 Uptown Park Boulevard
713 622 7283
CraveCupcakes.com
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